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  1. #1
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Front Suspension Work / Completed Rear Suspension

    Finished up my rear suspension yesterday and started working on the front end. Here are some pictures on what I found once I tore into it...

    stretched break line, BAD!


    Came off the car relatively easy. Needed a pickle fork to pry the spindle off the ball joint on the upper control arm.


    At that point the upper control arm falls right off the strut mount. As you can see its in pretty bad shape. Rusted bad enough I wouldn't reuse it.



    Strut Mount as you can see isn't going to be coming apart. So picked up new ones to go with the KYB struts and BMR lowering springs. Had to also order the perch seat for the new springs as the old coil overs aren't coming apart.


    Here's all the new stuff on the back end. BMR Lower Springs, Founders LCA's with Relocation Brackets and on car adjustable PHB along with KYB struts. Also replaced the rear bearings, seals and axles with new ones from Moser.


    All buttoned up

  2. #2
    Member cancam99ss's Avatar
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    Navy Blue
    Chevrolet Camaro SS

    Very nice buddy

  3. #3
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Thanks, I'm excited to see what it'll look like when it's all back together and get it on the road once they weather gives up here. I guess I'm happy because it's not 80 and sunny like it was last year. I'd rather it be crappy out when I'm doing work on it.

  4. #4
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Anyone know how to get the T-50 bolt out once you strip it out?

  5. #5
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    2000 Grand Prix GTP
    2000 Trans Am WS6 M6

    Quote Originally Posted by bhunter0830 View Post
    Anyone know how to get the T-50 bolt out once you strip it out?
    Try an allen head.

  6. #6
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Tried and alan head. Also tried an easy out and tried drilling it out... No go... Pretty screwed at this point...

  7. #7
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Thank god for a industrial air compressor and a good grinder... Damn you rust, damn you!

  8. #8
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Well after a couple hours of drilling and grinding, I was finally able to get the strut mount out. Why in gods name did they put a t-50 on an angle under the master cylinder makes no sense to me. I can tell you that won't be going back in! Luckily the upper control arm wasn't in as bad of shape as the passenger side one. Clean up a little rust and reinstall. Since the old struts and mounts are too rusted and I'm not a fan of spring compressors, once the strut perch seat's come in we'll be back in business.


  9. #9
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    2000 Grand Prix GTP
    2000 Trans Am WS6 M6

    Unbolt the master cylinder...it's two 15mm nuts and it will sit out of the way.

  10. #10
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    That's exactly what I did. Didn't move too far. The bolt was too rusted and as soon as I got a good angle on it the head stripped right out of it. I'll be finding a regular bolt to replace those two! Either way it came out with some pursuadion of a grinder, chisel and hammer! But it was a PITA!

  11. #11
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    2000 Grand Prix GTP
    2000 Trans Am WS6 M6

    Quote Originally Posted by bhunter0830 View Post
    That's exactly what I did. Didn't move too far. The bolt was too rusted and as soon as I got a good angle on it the head stripped right out of it. I'll be finding a regular bolt to replace those two! Either way it came out with some pursuadion of a grinder, chisel and hammer! But it was a PITA!
    Yeah, I replaced all eight bolts with new hardware:

  12. #12
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Quote Originally Posted by ls1camino View Post
    Yeah, I replaced all eight bolts with new hardware:
    Click for full size
    Perfect! Great looking engine bay also!

  13. #13
    Veteran pajeff02's Avatar
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    '02 WS.6 / '07 Suburban

    Nice work, Ben. I was able to move my master out of the way without any issues. I agree though, kind of dumb to use torx head bolts for the upper mounts.

  14. #14
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Front end put together. Now we just need an alignment!

    The new stance:

    2000 Trans Am - Sold
    BBK LT's, ORY, SLP LM2, SLP Cold Air Intake, Wide Band O2, American Racing Torq Thrust 2's, Founders STB, LCA's, LCA Relocation Brackets, Adjustable PHB, BMR Lowering Springs. Deleted AIR & EGR & Tuned By Frost. 1 of 23 MRM with options.

    2009 Pontiac G8 GT Stock

  15. #15
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    2000 Grand Prix GTP
    2000 Trans Am WS6 M6

    Looks good

  16. #16
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
    2009 Pontiac G8 GT

    Ok, got it all back together and the ride is just wanted I wanted. Nice and firm... However, there's a loud smack coming from the rear end. I think the exhaust is now smacking somewhere it wasn't before. 99.9% of the time, I laugh when someone ask "what do you think this noise is and can you diagnose this with out any picture. But... here goes, anyone have any idea what's smacking and where it's coming from? I'm hoping someone else has made the same changes I have and experience the same thing. Thanks!

  17. #17
    Veteran pajeff02's Avatar
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    '02 WS.6 / '07 Suburban

    The exhaust clearance is real tight to the body where it goes over the rear axle.

  18. #18
    Member bhunter0830's Avatar
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    Red
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    So what you are saying is that I should get used to it? It appears to be smacking the other piece of stamped metal that the PHB attaches to. Any suggestions on how to fix that?

  19. #19
    Veteran pajeff02's Avatar
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    Catback? If so, you simply have to adjust your exhaust by either rotating the connection at the joint before the rear axle, or by tweaking the mounting tab in that area. Mine wasn't too bad to get adjusted properly, but we fought the exhaust on TLS_Addict's Z-28 in that area to get clearance.

  20. #20
    Sold: LS1 '85 El Camino ls1camino's Avatar
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    2000 Grand Prix GTP
    2000 Trans Am WS6 M6

    Jack the car up and put jack stands under the rear end so the suspension is loaded when you inspect for the noise.

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